Bridging the Gap: A Pilot Study on the Efficacy of Nerve Allografts in Autologous Breast Reconstruction

Abstract

Background Breast anesthesia is commonly reported after mastectomy and reconstruction. During deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap reconstruction, we coapt at least one of the T10 to T12 thoracoabdominal nerves within the flap to the anterior cutaneous branch of the third intercostal nerve using a nerve allograft. We aim to evaluate the efficacy of nerve grafting in improving sensory recovery following neurotized DIEP flap reconstruction.

Keywords

• breast reconstruction
• nerve graft
• DIEP flap